Motor vehicle engine mounting



Oct. 14, 1952 H. J. VAN DOORNE MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1948 F'IGJ FIGJb INVENTOR HUBERTUS JOSEPHUS l, 4N DOORNE H m m A Oct. 14, 1952 H. J. VAN-DOORPIE v I 2,613,754 Y MOTOR- VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING Filed May 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS HUBERTUS JOSEP/w v4 DOORNE ATTORNEY INVENTOIL Oct. 14, 1952 H. J. VANDOORNE MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING- Filed May 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HUBERTUS Josm /us lA/V DOOR/\E ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1952 H. J. VAN DOORNE 2,613,754

MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING Filed May 24, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Hl/BERTLLS' JOSEPH/5 MW DOORNE ATTORNEY Oct. 14, 1952 H. J. VAN DOORNE 2,613,754

MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING Filed May 24, 1948 6 SheeflsSheet 5 IN VENTOR HUBERTUS JOSEPHUS l/4/V DOORNE ATTORNEY H. J. VAN DOORNE MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING Oct. 14, 1952 6 SheetsSheet 6 Filed May 24, 1948 1NVENTOR HUBERTUS JOSEP/vUS l/4N DOORNE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED.

ES PATENT MOTORVEHICLE ENGINEIMOUNTING v ll uber tus Jos ephus van Doorne, Deurne, Netherlands Application May 24, 1948, Serial N0."28,949'

- -'In the Netherlands May 29,1947

pressure gauge, the exhaust ,pipe,,the driveshaft,

the accelerator connections, etc..which tool; considerable time as well as completely isolated and operatively disconnected the engineso that it could not be tested or run when removed from its position in the vehicle without again making several of these connections. Also the engine in many such vehicles: is coveredby a detachable hoodtor plates which soonloosenandzproduce rattles and permit dust, dirtandfumes from, the engine to enter, thedriversorpassenger carrying compartment, I

It is an object to this invention to produce a new, simple, efficientand effective engine mounting for motor vehicles whereby the enginemay be moved to an easily accessible positionior testing, repairs and maintenance without specifically disconnecting any of its control or driving connectionswiththe vehiclerm Another object is to provide a vehicle in which no fumes or dirt from the engine can enter the passenger carrying compartment ofthe vehicles thereby reducing the fire hazard from fumes inside the vehicle. 1 In accordance. with this invention, the improved motor vehicle comprises a separate support or auxiliary-frame for the engine and, if desired, also for its radiator, clutch, and/or transmission or gear box, whichseparate;support may may also include means for aiding the "movement of thissupport, so it may be moved by one man at any time, even for maintenance. oflthec gine such as the addition'of oilor. w ater.;-jA1I-positive locking means is preferably-provided for maintaining the support with the engine in ,its'normal vehicle driving position onthe frame The flexible connections: for electricity, i uel, and the fluid control system, such asiorthe brakes, maybe connected to the, engine and its pport r -Inv t e m 'bo vor the.. 1e by flexiblehosesgand cables mounted so that slack 1 in these connections, particularly ,whenthe: en-

gine and its support areinjthe normal driving po o a e ta en up :s s-. tt q nr ducea hazard, The exhaust pipe, driving shaft, gear shift lever, clutchlever and accelerator may be provided with telescopic extension and/0r; do type clutches which are operativelyengaged when the engine and its support arein their vehicle driving position 1 r i By providing an easily extractableprremovable engine, the-engine when in its driving, -p o sition,

may be placed in a compartment-inthe; vehicle which is sealed from the drivefls and/or;passengeror article carrying compartment so that no dust, dirt or fumes fromjthe engine. can get inside the vehicle. This may be accomplished in the a e o a a us o truck.- vp cin -a unitary hood over theengine which is tightly fixed to the body around itsed es. One or'more windows may be provided in this .hood, however, so that thedriver may seethe dialsof instruments mounted on the engine, 7 i The above mentioned and other, features and objects of this invention and-the manner'of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself .will be bestv understood by reference to the following description of anembodiment of the invention takenin conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: Figs: land lbutaken together. comprisentwo complementary portions of aside elevation oithe front end of a motor vehicleipartlyf in section and withparts broken away -showinga slidable support for; the engine and transmission of fla said vehicle mounted in its driving --position. 1

Fig.,1 a is a side, elevation similar to Figs. l and lb, with more partsbroken away, taken along line -TI i E e -y- M hi i Fig. 2is atopplan'viewof the, structure shown in Figs. Land lb without thehood.

Figs. ,3 and 3 en ether. om se two complementary portionsof a side elevation corre sponding with Figs. 1 and 1b but with the, support for the enginein itsextended position,

Fig. '4 is avertical sectionof, onesernbodi nent o a ear hi v ,ico ct n n o erat ve posii en along n lvflv i-n Eis-a oset v 1 3 with a modification of a unit for moving the engine support relative to the vehicle main frame. shown in inoperative position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 4

showing the gear shift lever in inoperative posinon s unit or w in enginesupperi relativet 'the vehicle main frame, in operativepositionl Fig. -6 is a partial sectional view of the ex-. haust pipe connection shown in Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to Figs-H1, lb-andFi -gl.

there is shown one embodiment in the present invention applied to the engine} radiator, and

transmission of an autobus or truck, which has" cross-beams below the transmission I2,- adjacent which there is shown connected one of the vehicle leafsprings in Figs-;.-l'b"-and 3a.

The supportflfor; the engine e, its radiator I0, clutch II; and transmission l2, comprises a pair of'parallel beams 4 which slidein the U-shaped channels of the -be'amsfl of the mainframe, and are spaced "at'th'e front end by the channeled beam-'5 (s'ee Fig; 2) and-at' tlie' rear end by the tubular beam 6 -whichmayalso comprise an ax'isyfor the rollers"! which 'roll along the flanges of' the beams I to reduce the friction of sliding the support out of the front endof-the main frame of the vehicle. There-is jprovided" fixed to the beams I at their lower-front edge rollers 8' to support the other end or: the slidable engine supporting. frame, which-rollers 8"cont'act the lower flanges of the beams-"4.= The lower flange of the beams I in the region of rollers 8 when it is being moved into and out at its projected or extended positio'r'r.(see-1 5g. 3).

"The front end of the'eng-ine 9 with the radiator-l0 are supported by the cross-beam- 5 carrying brackets I4, and the rear end of 'the engine including. the clutch J I, is -supported on each sideby the brackets lfl extending-toward each other from-the beams 4.

The front bumper I5 of the vehicle, which is generally'mounted on the mainframe-of the:

vehicle, may be secured tozthefrontend of the beams 4 together with frame lfizu-(see cFig. 3)

' surrounding the radiator and supporting the front radiator grille I1.: The vertical-frame I6 -may-berprovided with Ia vrearwardly sloping upper face" I8 :upon. whichthe/instruments, such as; the speedometer, ammet'er, thermometer; oil

pressure gauge; and the like, may be mounted, inthat this portion ofthe frame rests close to and in' front 0fthe -driver of the vehicle when in its driving position as seen-sin Since these instruments are attached to I the engine and moved therewithon-the slidable-support for "the-engine there is-no need to provide flexible or extensible connections between them and the engine. M r I 7 i In the drivi-n'gi'position the engine and its support may-be locked-in the-position shown in -1 and lb' by an {easilyaccessiblef-bolt '19. which maylbe located adjacentithe dr-ive'r s position in the vehicle and may be pulled up by -8is; broken away at 8' so thatthefront-ehd offthe supporting'framerests on 'these rollers him when the engine and its support are to.

tion shown in Fig. 3, a toggle lever system is arranged at the front ends of each of the engine supportinggbeams 4. Each of said toggle lever systems consists of a double lever 20 confnected by a-cross bar serving as a handle ZI. The-double levers 20 are pivoted at 22 to the front;;en ds of their corresponding slidable beams 4;; and 1.are s connected to form rigid units with short lever arms 23 which thus follow the pivotal movement of the levers 26. These arms 23 are pivotally connected at 26 to yokes consisting of double.- links 24 and notch. engaging cross bars 1 25 -at their free .outer ends.

When the auxiliary engine; supporting frame 4 1s in its vehicle :drivingpositiomthcross bars 25 engage notches of hook-shaped members .2? mountedon the frontxendsof :eachmain frame beam I; and wrubber blocks. 28,: secured to. the upper faces of the engine. supporting beams 11, areurged against the lowerifaces of the upper fiang'es of thefma insframe. beams. I. In this position the front endswof. the. engine. supporting beams-=4 'are lifted' 'from th'e' irollers 8 (see Flee 1) In this same p'osition; thei'rounded rear ends. of the beams" 4 are urged :into- U -shaped recesses in rubberblocks ll'fi; shown-in-Fi'gsllb, 2 and 3a. These blocks are fastened. between opposite flanges of J the U-sh'aped main frame beams .I. In this way the engine supporting frame isv resiliently locke'd an'd prevented from rattling.

. -When itis-desired-to remove the, engine from its driving position 'andxtendait. out in front pulled byEhandIes ZI -in the forward direction,

so that said levers -are swung clockwise about .their pivots :22i" Whndoing so, the-pivots 26 pass. to and" through a dead center. position on the line'connectingpivots 22 and 25, during which movement the rubber blocks 23"'are,compressed" slightly more. When continuing the movement passed-saiddead center position towards the position indicated by the: dotted line 2H in- Fig. l,. -the auxiliary' frame is lowered until it rests on the rollers '8, and the rubber blocks 28 are .no longer co'mpressed or even contacted with'th'ea-frame bea'ms I.. Also after .the dead center position ispassed, theLlink-s 24 with their bars 25 push ag'a'inst the top and back of the hooks e215 :mounted. on the main frame, to

loosen said auxiliary frame from: its seats in blocks 90,- and to overcome any resistance between the clampingfepartsi and "connections between said auxiliary'vframeand;saidmain frame. As. the links. Miam -swung further'iabout the cross bars 25* 'as-1pivots, and during the latter part 'of the'movem'ent of: the le've1'sf20 toward the position-20f shown-in Fig. 1,; theauxiliary frame is pushed out"- of-thezmain frame until the front bumper [5 has reached the position indicated"bythe dotted line The cross -b'ars- 25- ma-y now be released from the hooks 21' and the auxiliary frameiis free-to be pulled further out .of 1 the main .frame.,while. riding on therollers' 'l and 8.; v

= similarlypwhenl-lthe engine. and its support. are to be replaced from the position shown in Fig.

, port easy'and rapid.

located on the slidaeiavs i a to that shown in run lines in Fig. 1; the engine .is 'pushed "towards the vehicle until it is in Ei'g'53tc prevent the slidable support from being completely pulled away from the vehicle and breaking-the extensible and flexible control connections thereto. j However, when it"is nec- 'essaryjtocompletely remove the engine and its fsu'pportfrom the vehicle, such may be easily done by disconnecting the connection s'48a, 48b and 480, and removing the bolt 30 from the side of the frame beam I Such would permit complete withdrawal of; the engine on its support from the rest of the vehicle and make the replacement'of'another engine on a similar sup- If the transmission is not able supporting frame with the engine, the connection between the gear shift lever 31 and the transmission need not be broken or extended.

One embodiment of a connection :which may be easily engaged and disengaged whenthe transmission is mounted on'the slidable supporting frame'forthe engine, and the gearshift lever ismounted onthe main frame of the body complished whe r neutral position 's";shown Fig.4. Y 3 .The necessar'y electricalf fuel,and fluid pressure, vacuuin or other control conduits between Since the gear shift lever moves the socket 35 both axially' and f' cireumferentiafly fof '"the' shaft 32, thisengagement and disengagement of the ball 36td-aiid fron'1socket 35 is preferably ac- '-the*galr shift'lever'is' in its the; engine and '-*the other parts 'pf-jthe vehicle are provided by'the fiexible bonnectiens 48115 481), and 480, one end of eachiofwhichis; connected to the back" end of the slidable frame, and the "other end'of-each of which=is* connectedto the hollow cross *be'anri 3 between he two ends of the slidable support P when: said fsupport -is-in its driving position as shown in Fig: lfso' that the cables 48 will remaintautwhenthe vehicle -'is 'being driven by the engine? 'Aportion of these cables 48; are broken away-t Fig. 2 to more clearly show their ends which 'are- -connected to the sli dable frame- Tl'ie' other ends ofthese cables enter the tubular cross-'- beam 3 I forfdistributionalong the frame to' the different parts of'th'e vehicle. 1

rigs. 4 am 5 there isfalso -shbwn a modifica-tion, not shown i-i'f- -thefother v i ews, comprising a special" rack and-pinion means formoving "the slidable supportincase one mancannot pull 'itfrom the vehicle by-theliiandleszl, such -as for example when the -vehicle-- is"- "stoppedon a hill.

' One way of providing mea'ns ro'rmovm'g' the slidable name as hown in 'this "modification; com- I prises '5 Y "'inner' adjacent 'sidesotth' beam l 'a'nd outside body "or -plate"5'l of-'- tl'i'e ve 'cle, and i nser ting through and between these nigs -a 'tl-ibe 50 which projects"through 'holesi m me body 5 l and beam "I provided "therefor. Theserings" 49 and 49a act of the vehicle, is shown in detail in Figs; 111,4

and 5. nects the transmission gear-shifting mechanism in the housing 31 on transmission [2. to housing 33 mounted on an inverted U-sha'ped bracket 34 mounted on one beam 4 of the slidable engine supporting fr'ame. '-,Inside this housing 33 a socket member '35 is fixed to the shaft 32, into the socket of which-the ball-shaped end 36 of the gear shift lever 31 may be releasably engaged. The gear shift lever- 31 is pivoted'between its ends byv a ball joint 38 journaled in housing 39 rigidly fixed to the framel bymeans Herein a universally-jointed rod 32 conof plate 40 covering the top of housing 33 when 4 the engine isin driving position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The ball joint 38 is provided with a spring pressed ball 41 which maybe seated in either groove 42 or 46 along the gearshift 1ever 31, depending upon whether the ball 3613f the gearshift lever is in engagementwith the socket 35 as shown in Fig. 401 withdrawn therefrom clear of the-top of the housing 33 as shown in Fig. 5. This latterf-position permits the 'hous- "pair at 1 rings as-ana "49d'wel'ded tc the "as'be'aring surfaces 'for-the tube 50 and as rein- 40' forcements for the holes" in beain 1 and plate 5 I. Inside the -tube 50 -'-blocks'; 52 'and 5 1,- are fixed by serews' szjai and mag; respectively, which blocks "have aligned e'ccentrie' holes 58 and 59' for-.iqur- ;-na1mg [shaft- 60; on the: 4 outside of--"the'vehic1e, "the blofk- SZ' may be provided -with a projecting arm 53 having aspring'fpife's'sedpin 54- with operatmg head 55- tobep'ositioned into a hole 56 beprdvided-at 1'80 f-rom the one showngso that the tube car-rying'theshaft 60 may be rotated to I engagethe pinion gear Blflinourited on the shaft he ra'ck" gamete-ted on the adjacent .7 4 p'port Thus when a wrench 'orfa crankis pp'lied to the hexagonal head 62 {at the otherend of the shaft 60outside the vehicle, the"p'inion-'6! may be turned *to force the slidablesuppbr-t in either direction as desired? f The-=b1o'ck 5 ma also be provided ing 33' to be slid'outfrom under the plate40' unobstructed by the projecting end of lever 31 and lockingipins 45 mounted on plate 43 which plate is raised against the action of spring 44 by the outwardly extending conical flange" 41 on lever 31 which engages the bottom of plate- 43 to disengage the pins 45 from their coopcrating holes in the top of bracket 34. The "lever 31 is. maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5 against the action of spring 44 by the engagement of ball'l4l in the groove 45. The

conical shaped flange 41 also serves to'c'enter the socket 35 forinsertion of the ball 46 when the'lever 31 is pushed downwardly from itsposition shown in Rig- 510 that shown in FigQf h and preferably'onthe side away from the normal with'a flange 65 along to engage the partial the assembly mounted intub'e 59 from -slidin'g'out of one-of its sides, llar' 64 and toprevent or place'.- For the purposes of illustration, the arm 531s shown oppositethe flange 65, however,

practice this flange would have to be located intermediat'efthe 18p? fs'w'eep of the lever 53 and accordingly should beat' about to' the fixed 'positionlo' f the armf53i f In this modified embodimentthe' pinion mfay' be'engaged with the rack ffi3 only when desire I I f'rfnecessary Also it may be mounted on either side of the vehicle stream 'of' traffic "when the flv'ehicle is stopped ad *and access m ls't be had 'fbO the acorn,

' The-exhaust pipe or conduit: 13

itate jGF-eritireiygseparated. froiiig as inside of; the vehicle means; of a fixed cover orhood 61, so that there are. now cracks, doors, or' openings to rattle or to permit. fumes and dust from the engine enteringv the interiorv ofthe vehicle.

This hood is shown provided with. a -glass; 68 over the. instrument zpanel i 8 mountedon frame l so the instruments may baobservgadqfror'n insidethevehicle whenjrthe. ep ineis .in;it's .dr-iving position shown in Fig. 1-.

The drive shaft. 59; extending; froin the;;rear V end-of the transmission 12 is-connectedto. a

universal joint. 19 v and; thence to a tubular drive to remain voneinside the. other. even when. the

engine and itssupport are. pulled into .-the. position' shown inFigs. 3 and 30, however, in.thi s :position .the inter-engaging grooves 9|. and; 92

of the dog type clutchv (seez my Netherlands; Patent No. 58,490) at the inner end-ofdrive shaft 1| are disengaged so thatoperation of. tlie.rmotor when in thisrextended position-.willtnot 'n ove-the vehicle-,even if the transmission gearshavebeen meshed toturnrtheshaft'l-l L mmi e-e gine may' also' be; provided with a telescoping tube M if the silencer zpr mufiier or. exhaustoutlet arelocated on themainframe ofthe vehicle, and not on the slidable support for the engine. In such a .case the. telescoping. exhaust pipes. '13 and fM are made of. such aleng-tn so asnot to slide one out of the other; even whentheengine is in its extended position shownin Figs. 3 -and- 3a,. so that runningofythe engine for testing pur-' poses will still convey the exhaust fumes through their-regular channels.'-,When the motor isin its driving position, a friction engagement; between the outer end of the' tube 13 and theili ner end ofthe tube J4is provided by a sylphon 1-5 (partiallyshownin. section. in- Fig. 6) and tapered engaging surfaces 11 and 18 maintained in; close contact "with each other by the spring action; of

the- Sylphon 15. This-friction engagement prevents any leakage of. fumes between;the..tubes" Hand 14. The final urging of theslidingframe from the dotted position l5 shownain Fig linto its; full line position, collapses to a slight. degreerthe'sylphon 15 so that the tapered facesJT and 18 will tightly contact. each other; This"- Sylphon arrangement also takes-care;autoniati- I cally of any expansion :or,contraction:,in the length of the tubes IS-and 1-16 dueto-changes-in shaft 1] therinside inner end of. which adjacerit positio asl"shown in i fii; sinceitlier is. no

obstructing,, .overlap'between the levers 8T and 881 in the directionof motion of the, slidabl'e supportgthe. simple Qabutment-type engagement betwee'njthe. accelerator pedal (not shown): and

the carburetor on the. eng'iiie may ,be provided.

Although this invention .lias-Ibeen described inlcornbination v'itha vehicle having. airn'otor mountedjlongitudinally in the front endon its name, "the samef. principles and; connections. can

be a plied forlslidable. mountings for motors which are pbs i'oned' cross-wa s. of the vehicle f gil a 'd'the'rehy.rnayslideout. one smear the vehicle. no, the s'iipporti for the, engine may bepivo'te a'vertica axis for. remomrnom th 4 ody of the.vehic1e,".particularly iftheehgine I .mounted in. the side. ofrthe vehicle or. under. the.

center (of. the vehicle as isnow the case in many autobusses, In such a structuretheuse of'tel'escoping connections flexible tubes, dogrtype clutches; and.. a butting couplings ofthety'pe described above-may be employed; 'sothat the engine .maybe tested and run even when in its extendd'position. For example, many of. the connections including the exhaust pipe-may 'pass through the center of'jthepivotalrnounting for t a e Supporting the'engme; v.

'1 the modifications shown inFi'gs'; 4and' 5 a rack andpinion driving, mechanismfare shown, .lhowe'ven. other. mechanisms may be. employed such as "for. example. a walking-dog. instead. of. a

I pinion to engage the rack. on. the. slid'able frame;

,orja fiuid pressuresystem and. piston may be 1 Qpi'ovidedwhi'cjh maybe connected. to. the fluid temperature. The small clearance andtight fit V ting of these tubes also -=reduces= undesirable. vi-

brations; between the tubes 13 and 14- causing noise. j 53,1. r In the embodiment. showninFig... 1, if. the

body portion or beam]. of. the vehicle and-connected. by means. of:rodl83' to.v arocking'jleverltd 'journ'aled on shaft 85 mounted.inbearingfiflfixed tobeam I.- The shaft857also carries].'an.abut-' ting. lever 81 which a'djustabl'y. engages 'leveri88 mounted on shaft8'9'} which operatesthelclutch II and is mounted'on the slidable engine-suppressure control'systenralready installed in the vel iicle; or any knownf'electricali or. mechanical movingdevice.

. WhiIe-"there'is described'above the principles of this invention inconnection with specific apparatus it islto. .be clearly understood. that. this description is made only by way of. example and not as alim'it'ati'on tothescope of this invention.

What is claimed is: v A .self-propelled. motor. vehicle comprisinga frame,,. n engine for driving said vehicle, means on. said frame .for supporting said. engine, means on. said frame. for "controlling-and operating. said engine for' driving said vehicle, means permitting movement .of said. engine; supporting means..re1a tive to saidframe between fixed limits, and controlzconduit means. continuously connectedbetweensaidiengineand saidframefor operating said-engine fromsaid'frame in any position of its. supporting: means-between. said limits, said conduit means. including. telescopic. connections a'ndI-mean's to. lock said connections into position when said supporting. means is in ing position at one-of said limits.

2.' The. vehicle of 1 wherein said control conduitmeansalso includes a plurality of flexits vehicle drivible. conduits withineansftomount. one end. of

, port soas tobe .in engagement with the ll'ever,

said' conduitsfto said' engine supporting means and means to. mountthe other end of said'conduits tosaidfraine;

3."' A,motorj vehicle comprising; a frame, an engine,. means for-supporting said' engine, .a hang'dle pivot'allyjin'ounted on said supporting means for permitting movement .ofsaidengine supportir'i'gfme ansItofdiiferentpositions relative to said ji i 'gf megifians.includinghooks.on said frame and .a support ng toggleileyersystem pivotally con- 81' when said sudame support" is" in its driving-hectedto saidli'andle means'and engageable with said hooks for locking said supporting means in one position for driving said vehicle, and flexible control conduit means continuously connected between said engine and said frame for operating said engine from said frame in any position of said engine supporting means.

4. A motor vehicle comprising a frame, an engine for driving said vehicle, means on said frame for supporting said engine, means on said frame for controlling and operating said engine for driving said vehicle, means permitting movement of said engine supporting means relative to said frame between fixed limits, one limit being in vehicle driving position and the other limit being away from its vehicle driving position, engine supply conduit means continuously connected between said supporting means and said frame for operating said engine from said frame in any position of said engine supporting means at and between said limits, and engageable and disengageable vehicle control connections between said engine supporting means and said frame, said connections being disengaged when said engine supporting means is out of driving position.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4 including a partition means between said engine and the other parts of said vehicle, said engine being adjacent said partition when in its vehicle driving position. v I

6. A motor vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said frame comprises two parallel beams and a U-shaped member connected between said beams out of the plane of said beams, whereby said engine may move through the U of said U- shaped member along said parallel beams.

7. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said engine is an internal combustion engine and said conduit means comprises a flexible fuel line for said engine.

8. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said conduit means include a flexible electrical conductor.

9. A vehicle according to claim 4 wherein one of said conduit means comprises two telescopic tubes, one of which tubes is fixed to said frame and the other of which tubes is fixed to said engine supporting means, and a Sylphon having an abutting collar at one end mounted at the end of one of said tubes, whereby the end of the other of said, tubes abuts against said collar and slightly compresses said Sylphon to maintain a gas tight joint between said tubes when said engine is in its Vehicle driving position.

10. A motor vehicle comprising: a main frame, a gear shift lever, a fixed pivot on said main frame for journalling said gear shift lever, an engine including a transmission, an auxiliary frame supporting said engine and said transmission, means permitting movement of said auxiliary frame relative tosaid main frame into and out of a vehicle driving position, control means mounted on said auxiliary frame for shifting of gears in said transmission, said control means being adjacent to and engageable by said gear shift lever on said frame when said auxiliary frame is in its vehicle driving position,

and means to lock and unlock said gear shift lever into and out of engagement with said control means on said auxiliary frame for controlling the shifting of gears of said transmission when said auxiliary frame is in said vehicle driving position.

11. The vehicle of claim ld wherein said means to loci: and unlock said gear shift lever comprises a disengageable ball and socket joint, one part of which is connected to said gear shift lever and the other part of which is connectedto said control means, and means associated with said lever permitting the longitudinal movement of said gear shift lever to lock said lever into two diiferent positions corresponding to saidball and socket being in and out of engagement.

HUBERTUS J OSEPHUS V. DOORNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

